Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere surged at a record-breaking speed last year, reaching a level not seen for more than three million years, according to the United Nations' weather agency.

The World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) new report "Greenhouse Gas Bulletin" says, "Globally averaged concentrations of CO2 reached 403.3 parts per million (ppm) in 2016, up from 400.00 ppm in 2015 because of a combination of human activities and a strong El Nino event."  In short, El Nino intensified droughts and weakened the ability of vegetation to absorb carbon dioxide.  And a warming planet means there will be more frequent El Nino weather events.

Scientists and people who want to live and breath welcome the report as a scientific base for arguing for strengthening Paris Climate Accord at the next round of UN climate change negotiations, which will be held from 7-17 November in Bonn, Germany.

"Without rapid cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, we will be heading for dangerous temperature increases by the end of this century, well above the target set by the Paris climate change agreement," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.  "Future generations will inherit a much more inhospitable planet," he continued.

"CO2 remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years and in the oceans for even longer.  The laws of physics mean that we face a much hotter, more extreme climate in the future.  There is currently no magic wand to remove this CO2 from the atmosphere," said Mr. Taalas.

The last time Earth experienced similar CO2 concentration rates was during the Pliocene era, which was three to five million years ago.  Mastodons roamed the earth, the sea level was up to 20 meters higher than now, and people weren't people - they were Australopithecines.